India Digest: U.S. to Lift Hi-Tech N-Sanctions

Here is a roundup of news from Indian newspapers, news wires and Web sites on Thursday, November 4, 2010. The Wall Street Journal has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

U.S. to Lift Hi-Tech N-Sanctions: The discussions are over, and India and the US are ready with the biggest announcement of President Barack Obama’s visit: decontrol of the sale of sensitive equipment to India, and the completion of India’s nuclear rehabilitation. “We will be able to make a significant announcement about the Obama backs ‘India’s rise’, but promises little about the modernisation of export controls systems between the US and India,” secretary of commerce Gary Locke said. (Source: Hindustan Times)

Obama Holds no Assurances on India’s UNSC Hopes: Ahead of his visit, President Barack Obama today described India as a “cornerstone” of US engagement in Asia, but held out no assurances on key issues –support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council and ending curbs on export of dual-use technology. (Source: Press Trust of India)

ONGC top Explorer on Platts’ Global List: Beyond the resilience of the Indian economy, here’s one more global success story that has been penned in India . At the receiving end of relentless criticism from most quarters at home, flagship explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has beaten China’s CNOOC to the global top explorer slot. (Source: The Times of India)

China May Relent on Stapled Visas: Even as New Delhi gets ready to welcome US president Barack Obama on Sunday, ties with China may also be in for a welcome boost. A month ahead of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao’s India visit, the buzz in diplomatic circles indicate Beijing is willing to review its policy of issuing stapled visas to Jammu & Kasmhir residents. (Source: Hindustan Times)

Ajmer Dargah Blast Bomb-maker Held: The Rajasthan Anti-Terror Squad has arrested the bomb-maker in the Ajmer Dargah blast case. He happens to be a main accused in the Vadodara Best Bakery carnage also. (Source: The Hindu)
Govt. Takes Over, Seals Lalit Modi’s Jaipur Havelis: The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) sealed and took back possession of two havelis in the Amer Fort area on the city’s outskirts on Wednesday from former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi and his wife, Minal Modi. The two properties spread over 467 and 1,463 sq yards were sold in 2007 for Rs. 9 lakh and Rs. 21 lakh, respectively, while the market price was estimated at more than R100 crore. (Source: Hindustan Times)

Probe Ordered into 50 Feet Wall Around Ambani Building: The BEST committee has ordered an investigation to determine how a 50-foot boundary wall was built around Antilla — industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s new 27-storey home on Cumballa Hill — without seeking its permission. (Source: The Times of India)

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